Kids learn differently, so I am all about teaching them different strategies to solve problems, especially in math. After working in higher education for more than 25 years, I have been disheartened by the number of students who made it to the doors of a college or university without even the most basic of math skills. Frankly, it was just appalling. So I get it. Let’s teach them when they are younger that different strategies that can be used to learn basic math skills. To me, the key here is to teach them basic skills. At some point they are going to have to understand the principles of mathematics to continue their studies.
Learning to teach kids by new ways
At what point do we stop teaching our kids to manipulate numbers with sticks, dots and blocks – and start teaching them the real properties of numbers. When did we lose the wherewithal to teach kids that a quarter is 25 cents, a dime 10 cents and so on? You know what at least 90 percent of the focus was? Standardized testing and how teachers will prepare students for those tests. Even more troublesome was the fact that her son not her daughter will probably be the one who struggles with these tests. Because, you see, it is no longer acceptable to solve a math equation and get the correct answer.
It’s crazy. It’s stupid. We need some elementary education reform that makes sense and allows students who learn by different methodologies to be equally recognized.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- Common core may be the answer for some students, but not others.
- A child who is able to work with numbers in their head may struggle to illustrate the method they used to arrive at the answer.
- Children, who work above their grade level in math; may be penalized on standardized tests, even when arriving at the correct answers.
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